Life… there is no true definition of life, it differs from one person to another, but I guarantee that most of you heard a lot about life. Some say life is simple; life is good, life is short, life is an adventure and many more opinions, but I rather stick with ‘life is full of choices’. Do you guys agree?
![]() Today I went to a bazaar in North Jakarta. The bazaar offers apparel and a F&B section and I stayed in the F&B section for hours: I'm the kind of girl who loves to try new things, especially when it comes to food. So little by little I peeked around the F&B section and I ended up buying a lot of food. Not because I was starving to death, but just because I was curious enough to try those foods – in which case nothing can stop me –, so I asked for some recommendations regarding food I didn’t know yet. Time flies so fast and sometime I realize that time has changed myself and the people around me. Well, we're getting older each year and become more mature. Yesterday, I met up with some of my friends. We've known each other for 10 years. As we talked for hours, I realized that we talk about meaningful and positive things instead of blabbering like we used to do.
My sister just got home today, I'm so happy! She was away studying to get a master degree in Stavanger, Norway since 2013 and is now coming back for good. Being separated for 2 years didn't change anything between us, in fact the sister bond seems to get even tighter. As we've been apart for so long, there are so many things to catch up with.
My sisters and I talk about many things, we tell stories, give advice to each other as well as support each other in positive ways.
Hi readers, how are you guys doing today? I hope you’re doing well, just like me. Today I’m going to share my thoughts about growing up. Hope you guys enjoy!
Over the course of time, each of us is growing up, to become a better version of ourselves. When I was a kid, I always dreaming of growing up but the reality is… as I grew up, I always wanted to stay the old me, a little kid who has nothing to worry about. But life goes on and I’m not Peter Pan. People come and go, whether to be a blessing or a lesson in our lives. Last night, my auntie passed away after being treated for a week in hospital, from diabetes and the complications she suffered. Her absence was such a big loss to our whole family. As she is a sister, a mother, a friend as well as an auntie for all of us. This loss has taught me that death comes to everyone, sometimes unexpectedly.
Hi Indonesia Against Aids readers!
Great to see that you are on this website and showing interest in what remains a really serious issue throughout Indonesia. We have worked in Bali since 1993 and started Bali Kids in 2005. Bali Kids was set up to provide medical/dental care and health education. Our staff travels to the remote villages, disabled centers and 'orphanages' five or six times a week. We treat and educate the kids on site. Those who cannot be treated on site can stay at our Medical Center in Bali until they are well enough to return home. Shortly after starting the project, we also got kids with HIV. No one else was offering holistic care for HIV+ kids at the time, so we realized that we needed to fill this gap. Today is the first day of holy month Ramadhan in Indonesia. As you may know, Indonesia has the largest muslim population in the world. During Ramadhan, from sunrise to sunset, many people in Indonesia do not eat, do not drink and get a hold on their lust and other emotions.
Hello again, it’s Dita here and I’ve missed sharing my stories with you guys! After a long haul (not that long, actually), I finally have the time to write again about my daily routines, which makes me happy! Some of you might be wondering what I’m doing after the 'Asia against AIDS- Back To Zero: Indonesia' workshop in Bali last month and even though it is hard for me to move on from a month full of adventurous experiences, I must face reality, so I will tell you all about it…
In 2010, in response to the growing HIV epidemic in their own neighborhood, Meghan Pappenheim and Kadek Gunarta, a wife-husband duo and founders of the BaliSpirit Festival, decided to take action. Supported by a compassionate outreach team and partner organizations, they launched a new education program that would eventually reach every district (kabupaten) of Bali. AYO! Kita Bicara HIV & AIDS, which translates to “Hey! Let's Talk HIV and AIDS,” is a youth education program that provokes candid and open dialogue about sexually transmitted diseases including HIV & AIDS, as well as reproductive health and rights. Peer-driven communication also cultivates a culture of empathy for people living with HIV and AIDS. AYO! Kita Bicara HIV & AIDS empowers teenagers as agents of change and the key to achieving the program’s ultimate goal: To gain community and government support to integrate HIV & AIDS education into junior and senior high school curriculums in Bali.
In the last five years, AYO! Kita Bicara HIV & AIDS has developed HIV & AIDS education workshop content specifically tailored to Balinese teenagers. Through its EduSpirit Workshops, it has reached over 4,260 students and 180 teachers in more than 71 high schools across Bali. In 2013, AYO! Kita Bicara HIV & AIDS was awarded a substantial grant from the New Zealand Home Mission Fund (NZ-HOMF) to support the 2014 GOAL AYO! Program for comprehensive facilitator module development and facilitator capacity-building. Following a rigorous selection process, we trained a total of sixteen educators from throughout Bali to lead EduSpirit workshops in their home regencies. Of course, HIV & AIDS education also happens beyond the classroom, and we have always endeavoured to identify creative and entertaining outlets for information-sharing. Between 2011 and 2013, AYO! Kita Bicara HIV & AIDS held free community concerts on the public football field of Ubud to reach a wider audience. The annual concerts attracted audiences of thousands and featured influential national recording artists and well-known local bands. Following successful media partnerships to broadcast a 2012 Public Service Announcement, last year, AYO! Kita Bicara HIV & AIDS hosted a weekly talk show on two radio stations and launched the Heart Connection Tour (HCT) to encourage EduSpirit workshop facilitators to incorporate music and dance into HIV & AIDS education workshops. All of AYO! Kita Bicara HIV & AIDS’s educational platforms address sexual and reproductive health and rights and HIV & AIDS through creative and engaging information exchange. Balinese youth gain life-saving knowledge on high-risk behaviors and are empowered as peer leaders to discourage unprotected sex and intravenous drug abuse among classmates, encourage HIV testing, and instill empathy toward people living with HIV & AIDS. AYO! Kita Bicara HIV & AIDS has been grateful for the support of a number of organizations over the years, including the New Zealand Aid Programme, AusAID HIV Cooperation Program for Indonesia, Komisi Penanggulangan AIDS (National AIDS Commission), Bumi Sehat Foundation, Bali Peduli Foundation, Desa Seni, Teh Kotak, The Yoga Barn, Radja Pro, DKT Indonesia, YAMAHA Indonesia, Pregina, and Antida Records. Partner organizations have included Kita Sayang Remaja Bali (We Care About Balinese Teenagers), Hijau Biru Consulting, Humanitarian Benchmark Consulting, Bali Red Cross, and local governmental health, education, and youth and sports departments in each of the nine districts of Bali. In 2015, our goal is to continue to develop the educational content of our workshop materials for adaptability and long-term relevance. We also hope to undertake post-workshop surveys to monitor knowledge retention. Sustainability is always a challenge, however, and we are currently seeking new funding to continue our programs. The AYO! Kita Bicara HIV & AIDS core team includes Outreach Program Coordinator A.A. Raka Sutariyani (aka, Raka) and Program Officer I Made Yuda Prawira (aka Dodok). For more information or to make a donation, contact: outreach.program@balispiritfestival.com. Website: http://www.ayobali.org and http://www.balispiritfestival.com/community-outreach/ayo-kita-bicara-hiv-and-aids |
Enter our territory and follow the days of the lives of the protagonists of our project. On this page they will tell you everything about their work with Bali Against Aids. This blog will be their online diary: an opportunity for them to share their experiences and to give you a sneak peak into their life.
Enjoy the ride! WELCOME
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